A lot had changed about Soraya Karter, which was why she had put to use the very first thing she had learned as a Wolf Hunter. 'To survive in the supernatural world, never show them fear, always make them know you are in charge. These creatures feed on fear, and you should do well to know.'A little research and her very informative roommate had given Soraya an insight into the student hierarchy of Fenrir and so when she had walked in on Ethan and Elle arguing, she knew exactly who they were and what to do. Ethan Farrow, son of the Alpha of Fenrir Pack. Elle Farrow, Ethan's sister, and a total bitch and bully.

"I see that the little witch has found a friend," Elle sneered at Adele who was standing behind Soraya with a scared look on her face, clutching her book tightly like it would save her from the wrath that was Elle Farrow.

"Something that your sorry ass could not do right?" Soraya snapped back. Oh, how she hated bullies.

"Who the hell do you think you are talking to!" Elle stood up from her seat with her wolf speed and raised her hand to land a smack on Soraya's face.

Soraya was quick to see the attack as she parried it with her hand fiercely gripping Elle's raised palm. "I would not do that if I were you, Farrow."

"Let go of her this instant, Karter!"

What the hell? Her hold loosened from Elle's hand and the latter immediately jerked free as they both spun around to look at him

"Daryl," Elle squeaked, an act that made Soraya roll her eyes.

"You seem to forget where you are, Karter," he started. "Causing trouble on your first day at school is not nice."

"And I never said I play nice, Your Highness?" She bit back, drawing on the title with scorn.

"You are on Fenrir Pack lands, you should do well to remember that and not overstep your boundaries."

"The laws of the pack do not apply to the Academy, did they never tell you that?"

"But the laws of Nevanda apply everywhere in this country, including the Academy, and so as the Prince of Nevanda, I say go find your seat and stop causing trouble."

He paused and leaned in closer before whispering; "That is an order, Soraya Karter."

"I think you got on the Crown Prince's nerves, he has never butted into petty arguments like the one with Elle before."

"Well, the Prince can go fuck himself," Soraya snapped at Adele, infuriated at the bitterness that she had felt when the incident had happened.

Adele's face fell at Soraya's tone and Soraya almost felt bad that she had snapped at the girl. Almost.

She let out a ragged breath.

Why was she feeling like this? She didn't like that was she so annoyed that Daryl had spoken up for that bitch, Elle Farrow, and would never admit to the small voice that poked her, telling her jealousy was the right name for what she was feeling.

Jealousy? As if! There was no way she was getting jealous that he was giving another girl his attention. She had only known him for a day after all.

The next class was sparring, the only class Soraya had looked forward to since her first two classes this morning, only because she had taken a liking to swords and spears during her six-month training with Quinn.

The sparring gym was like an ancient armory in a sense — all steel and wood and metal of all shapes and sizes. Two sparring mats sat in the middle of the gym, and the instructor stood by beside them as the students filled up the room.

"Welcome, second-year students, to your first sparring class," the instructor started.

"My name is Sorren, and I will be your sparring instructor for the rest of the academic year."

Soraya huffed with a bored expression, her only interest was in the weapons that glimmered brightly against the walls of the gym.

"What? This place does not suit your ego?"

Fuck it. Soraya swallowed an exasperated sigh, he just had to be here. Of course he was here, they were classmates after all.

Soraya pressed her lips tightly together as Daryl came to stand beside her. She tried not to look, she tried not to acknowledge the inescapable warmth that flushed her body at his presence beside her. Heavens, this was wrong. She kept quiet, deliberately ignoring him. If she pretended he did not exist, then maybe she would be able to focus on her plans to kill him instead of trying to decipher why her heart rate seemed to accelerate when he was near.

"You won't speak to me?" Daryl probed just at the same time as the instructor asked; "who would go first?"

Go first for what?

"Karter and I!" Daryl spoke up, and then he looked back at her with a grin and suddenly pointed the blade of his sword dangerously to her neck – a sword she had no idea that he had on, until now.

Never lose focus. He made her lose it.

"Spar with me, Karter."

Right, sparring.

Soraya stared at the crown Prince with a frown, eyes narrowed on him as he held his sword to her neck. It was a dangerous position because just a little movement from him would draw blood from her neck, and yet she could feel the rush of adrenaline at the challenge and also something else that she would never agree on. A feeling that must not be named.

"You have no idea what you are asking for, your Highness," she stated with an eye roll.

"Confident much, aren't you?" Daryl smirked, an act that had his lips puckering up and his eyes crinkling. "You sure don't think you are going to win me?"

"You are delusional if you think you would win me," Soraya countered. The Prince had an ego that irked her.

As if she didn't have one too.

"Let's make a deal then, Karter. If I win, you get to do one thing I ask of you, and if you win then I do the same."

"I don't do deals," She answered in a clipped tone

"Are you scared you might lose?" He sneered, his golden brown orbs flashing at his challenge, an indication that he was enjoying this.

Heavens. Soraya thought. She was not here to dilly-dally or play cat and mouse with the Prince, she was here to kill him. Yet she was just as tempted to agree to his challenge. What could go wrong if she did?

"Soraya Karter?" Instructor Sorren called out.

Soraya ripped her gaze from Daryl and turned to face the instructor. She had almost forgotten that they were in the presence of their instructor and every other classmate.

"We do not have all day, now get on the mat with Daryl Ender."

Daryl brought down his sword at the instructor's order.

The Prince did not need to press on, even the instructor already decided. With a huff, Soraya went for the mat as Daryl followed behind.

"Now since the Prince has his weapon with him, I want you to try to disarm him. You will follow my instructions and the others will watch, are we clear?"

"Crystal," Soraya answered along with the mumbles of reply from the other students.

She and the Prince locked gazes as they circled each other on the mat.

Focus, she chided herself, breathing in a heavy sigh as Daryl raised his sword to attack. She blocked and swerved to avoid the attack, showing up behind him.

"I never said you could attack, Prince Daryl!" The instructor snapped.

Daryl turned to face Soraya. "I don't think we need your instructions, Instructor Sorren, can you not see that we both know what we are doing?" He said, without taking his gaze off Soraya. "Right, Karter?"

Soraya scoffed, seeing the hidden glint in his eyes. It was like he was testing a theory, perhaps trying to gauge her skills. Well, two can play the game. "Of course, your Highness. We can do this without the instructions."

Daryl did not wait for another word from Instructor Sorren before he swung his blade and struck again, Soraya slid away fluidly, the blade of Daryl's sword swinging at the vacant air of where she had been. A thrill surged through at the challenge.

"Very well," Daryl remarked, as he continued his attacks, feints and attacks alike aimed at Soraya's head, neck, shoulders, legs, and arms; each dodge and block executed flawlessly and expertly. If Soraya had not been trained, she would have gotten hit twice or even more, but the smug look on the Prince's face told her that he had somehow guessed her prowess and just wanted to see what she was capable of.

The Instructor and their classmates faded into the background as they continued their sparring, the swings and evasion like a ballroom dance, a series of steps and patterns, while they danced around each other, circling, attacking, and defending. Each move was executed perfectly, each attack was executed flawlessly.

And then the moment came; Daryl lunged towards Soraya, who barely managed to dodge him at the last minute, a swift move had her kicking the sword from his hands and then she had him on his back, her arms caging his own against his chest and her knees pressed to his abdomen.

She had a smug look on her face as she spoke up. "What did you say about that deal, your Highness?"

"I never back out of a deal, Karter," he answered, mirroring her gaze. "So what do you want?"

She shrugged. "We shall see."

"That's enough both of you!" Instructor Sorren shouted and Soraya stood up, letting go of Daryl.

Two could definitely play the game.